Chapter 40

“I’m home,” I call out into the apartment, dropping my keys on the hall table. Soft jazz music is coming from Sarah’s room, the distinct smell of Marcus’s aftershave in the living room, and a half-empty bottle of wine and two glasses on the table. I sigh, bristling inside, and ponder staying at Jake’s apartment for the night as he offered. I should have stayed over instead of taking the extra car journey home; we’d be watching a movie by now.

There’s no response from the closed bedroom, so I assume they don’t want to be disturbed. I don’t attempt to call out again. I go to my room and dump my luggage by the bed, glad to be home, yet at the same time, the familiar pang of missing Jake is already washing over me.

We have worked together so much over the last few months, glued side by side, that being apart feels abnormal. Even though we occasionally spend weekends apart, the recent non-stop chaos of trips and workdays flowing into each other has meant a few weeks of rarely